Does an ectopic pregnancy hurt?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on December 13, 2024
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Ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy state where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterine cavity. As the pregnancy sac grows, there is a possibility of rupture and bleeding at the implantation site, which can lead to abdominal pain. In the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy, women generally do not exhibit any specific symptoms and are unaware of the condition. Symptoms are only felt when rupture occurs, causing pain in the lower abdomen. If rupture occurs, the pain often feels like tearing in the lower abdomen and is frequently accompanied by nausea and vomiting. It is recommended to promptly visit a hospital for an ultrasound and actively pursue surgical treatment.

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Written by Liu Qin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Causes of ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of a fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity, among which tubal pregnancy is the most common type, accounting for about 95% of ectopic pregnancies. There are many causes of ectopic pregnancy, with the main cause being inflammation of the fallopian tubes. The inflammation can cause the mucous membrane of the fallopian tube to become sticky, narrowing the lumen of the tube, or impairing the function of the cilia inside the tube, leading to obstruction of the fertilized egg's movement within the tube and resulting in implantation at that location. Other causes include surgery on the fallopian tubes, poor development or abnormal function of the fallopian tubes, further development of assisted reproductive technologies, and the use of emergency contraceptive pills, also known as contraceptive failure, among others. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yan Qiao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 35sec home-news-image

How much does an ectopic pregnancy cost approximately?

The treatment of ectopic pregnancy is divided into three types: cord treatment and conservative drug treatment, open abdominal surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. For cord treatment, no medication is needed; regular monitoring of ultrasound and HCG levels until they return to normal is sufficient, and generally, this incurs no excessive costs. For conservative drug treatment, the main medications used are mifepristone combined with methotrexate, and it can also be combined with traditional Chinese medicine treatment. These medications are very affordable. For the treatment of ectopic pregnancies, we still recommend hospitalization. The cost of conservative drug treatment is about 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. Of course, depending on the specific conditions of the patient, if multiple treatment courses are needed, the cost may increase, but the increase is relatively small, and it also depends on the individual. Regarding surgical treatment, open abdominal surgery is generally around 8,000 yuan according to the standards of a third-grade A-level city hospital. Laparoscopic surgery, slightly more expensive by about 1,000 to 2,000 yuan, is controlled at around 10,000 yuan. Of course, these are costs according to our own hospital’s standards, and our hospital is also a third-grade A-level city hospital. This is generally the situation.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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How is an ectopic pregnancy treated?

If symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are confirmed, further examinations are necessary before symptomatic treatment can be administered. Normally, it is essential to first determine the specific status of the ectopic pregnancy, whether there is any rupture, whether the patient's vital signs are stable, and whether there is significant internal bleeding in the abdominal cavity. If the symptoms are not severe and there is no rupture, localized conservative medicinal treatment can be administered. However, if the symptoms are severe, accompanied by hemorrhagic shock or substantial internal bleeding in the abdomen, emergency surgical treatment is required.

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Written by Li Li Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How to Self-Diagnose an Ectopic Pregnancy

Generally, ectopic pregnancy can be ruled out through one's own symptoms and signs. Firstly, through one's own clinical symptoms, if pregnancy has been confirmed by a urinary pregnancy test and the patient does not experience abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or other such conditions, but does experience significant early pregnancy reactions like nausea and vomiting, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy is small. It can generally be judged to be an intrauterine pregnancy. However, self-diagnosis is not very accurate, and ultimately, it depends on an ultrasound to see the intrauterine gestational sac to confirm whether it is an intrauterine pregnancy. Therefore, the most scientific method is to go to the hospital for an ultrasound and have a blood test for HCG. This method is more scientifically accurate. If an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, surgical treatment must be pursued immediately as it can be life-threatening.

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Written by Tang Mei Xiang
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy depend on the location of the implantation of the fertilized egg, whether there has been a rupture or miscarriage, and the amount and duration of bleeding if there has been a rupture or miscarriage. Generally, there may be no symptoms in the early stages. If a miscarriage or rupture occurs, symptoms similar to those of threatened miscarriage or early pregnancy might appear. Typically, the manifestations of ectopic pregnancy include missed periods, usually about six to eight weeks of amenorrhea. The second is abdominal pain, which is the most common symptom in patients with tubal pregnancies, accounting for about 95%. Third, there is a small amount of vaginal bleeding, which does not correlate proportionally with internal bleeding and is generally less than a normal menstrual period. Fourth, fainting and shock can occur if there is significant internal bleeding. Fifth, a mass may be palpable in the abdomen.